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Joe Flacco Wants New Deal Before It Gets Complicated

Quarterback Joe Flacco has the same hope the Ravens organization and fans have.

He hopes the negotiations on his contract extension wrap up before the start of the 2012 season. If that doesn’t happen, Flacco says, coming to terms could get more complex.

“I want to get something done before the year,” Flacco told WNST Monday in an hour-long interview. “I hope that we both want to get something done before the beginning of the year because when the year comes and goes and I haven’t been re-signed, then that’s when things can start to get complicated.

“You don’t want to get to the point where you play out your contract and you get to those complicated situations where they can put the franchise tag on you and things like that. I don’t really want it to get to that point just because of that. If we do, it’s not going to be a distraction, it’s just going to be what it is.”

Flacco added that if a deal wasn’t done before the end of the offseason, he would still be open to it getting done in September as opposed to waiting until 2013.

Heading into his fifth NFL season, Flacco made it clear that he doesn’t want to play for any other team.

“I want to play football for the Baltimore Ravens,” he said. “There’s nothing else in the world I’d rather be doing.”

As for the contract structure and details that are currently being discussed between his agent, Joe Linta, and the Ravens, Flacco says he isn’t involved. He’s already expressed to his agent how he feels and he lets Linta handle the rest.

Asked if he is aware how much other quarterbacks are making, Flacco said he hasn’t really paid attention.

“It’s not about the money. It’s about what you feel you deserve. At the end of the day, they’ll take care of it and I’ll be waiting.”

Flacco Feels He Is A Top-5 QB

Ever since Linta proclaimed his client as a top-5 quarterback in February, the notion has been heavily debated among fans and pundits.

As far as his record goes, Flacco has won more games in his first four years than any other quarterback in NFL history. But his individual passing statistics aren’t among the top 5.

Of course, to Flacco, there’s no question about where he ranks.

“Without a doubt [I'm in the top 5],” Flacco said. “What do you expect me to say? I would assume everybody thinks they’re a top-5 quarterback. I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’m the top 5, I think I’m the best. I wouldn’t be very successful at my job if I didn’t feel that way.

“That doesn’t mean that things are going to work out that way. It just means that’s the way it is – that’s the way I feel that it is and that’s the way I feel it should be.”

Flacco said it doesn’t bother him that people don’t put a lot of stock in his winning record. He would like to throw for 40 touchdowns a year and throw for 5,000 or 6,000 yards, but only because he believes that would help make the Ravens a Super Bowl-winning team. If becoming world champions meant the offense would have to run more, then he is fine with that also.

However the Ravens get the job done, he hopes the city will get behind him.

“I’m looking for support out there in Baltimore because every time we seem to [throw more] and then every time we seem to run for 250, everybody wants to go back and forth and we’re this kind of team, we’re that kind of team,” Flacco said.

“You know what kind of team we need to be? We need to be a Super Bowl-champion team. … I love winning. And I’m going to continue to win no matter what my numbers are.”

Flacco, Cam’s Sideline Interaction

Many have questioned the strength of Flacco and Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron’s relationship in part because they don’t appear to interact very much on the sideline during games.

But Flacco affirms that their relationship is solid and their interaction on the field has more to do with his personal approach to the game.

“Me and Cam, we have a great relationship, especially a working relationship,” Flacco said. “If you don’t see us interacting on the field, it’s because he likes to leave me alone on gamedays. And I love the fact that he likes to leave me alone on gameday.

“Last thing you want as a quarterback, at least for myself, is to come off the field and have a guy in your face telling you, ‘This is what you did right and this is what you did wrong. Let’s look over it, let’s do this.’ It’s like, ‘Listen, I’ve got a feel for the game. Let me go out there and play.’ I don’t have to tell that to him because he knows that. He’s got his own feel for the game, I’m getting my feel for the game.”

Flacco Quick Hits

Flacco on the input he has on the offense: “I think this year the input was more and more. And I think next year, the input will be more and more. I think as we grow and as our relationship really kind of sinks in, [Cameron] can start to look at me as not being a first-year quarterback anymore and just let me go. I think we can really start to get to that point. …

“You got to realize, coaches are people that like to have that structure and that control to a certain extent. Especially when they have young players. So it takes a lot and it takes a very good relationship and it takes a couple of years in order for coaches to get to that point where they can say, ‘Hey, go ahead. We trust you fully – everybody. Not just you, Joe. We trust Torrey, we trust Anquan, we trust Ray, we trust Vonta, we trust the whole offensive line. Everybody out there, we trust and we can just let you go play the game. ”

Flacco on what he will name his first baby: “My wife would probably kill me if we decided to talk any [names]. We probably, between the two of us, have mentioned names to each other once or twice and we have nothing really going. It’s not going to be Joe, that’s one thing I know. If it’s a boy, it’s not going to be Joe. … We’ll have a boy’s name and a girl’s name ready to go. We don’t know what we’re having.”

On how many kids Flacco wants: “I grew up in a big family. My parents had six kids. I’m the oldest of six. So I’ve been around a lot of young kids when I was growing up. I can’t wait, I’m excited. I’d have 20 kids if I could.”

Konz, Jenkins To Meet With Ravens

Wisconsin All-American center Peter Konz is scheduled to visit the Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times. He reportedly also has private workouts scheduled with the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and the Tennessee Titans.

While predictions have cooled off lately, Konz has been the most popular person linked to Baltimore in mock drafts. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder has drawn comparisons to Pro Bowl center Matt Birk, who he could eventually replace if drafted by the Ravens.

Wilson adds that the Ravens will also have Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins in for a visit this week. He will also meet with the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Jenkins has good size and speed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, running a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine,” wrote Wilson. “[He] was a blue-chip recruit who chose Illinois over Florida, Florida State, Miami and South Carolina and played immediately as a true freshman.”

Jenkins led the Big Ten Conference with 84 catches for 1,194 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

While Nike will officially unveil its new line of jerseys and other merchandisetoday, t-shirts and shorts have been made available for all 32 teams, including the Ravens. At the Ravens store, “Just Do It” and “Bo Knows” t-shirts already on sale. [BaltimoreRavensStore.com]